8.7· 118 reviews
Recife & Olinda Tour
Discover the rich heritage of Recife and Olinda on this walking tour in which you'll learn the origin and evolution of these two cities.
7 h
from US$ 22
In brief
Recife is worth 3 to 4 days: Recife Antigo (the Old Town), the Boa Viagem seafront promenade, the two Brennand sites and a full day for Olinda. The driest months run from October to December, with 39 to 62 mm of rain and highs of 30 to 31 °C; from April to July it rains much more (up to 391 mm in June), although the heat never goes away in any month.
The destination
What to expect in Recife
Recife grew up on the water: between the Capibaribe River, the Beberibe and the ocean, and crossed by bridges that earned it the nickname Venice of Brazil. It was a sugar port and the Dutch capital in the 17th century, and that history left behind the colorful houses of Recife Antigo, the Baroque churches and neighboring Olinda, on top of its hill. Today it is the capital of Pernambuco and the center of one of the most fertile cultural scenes in the country, the cradle of frevo, maracatu and manguebeat.
The climate is warm and humid all year, with highs between 28 and 31 °C and warm seas. The rainy season runs from fall to winter, from April to July, and June and July are the wettest months; spring and early summer, from September to January, are dry and sunny, the best window for the beach. It is a coast of constant warmth, with no real winter.
Recife is split between the beach and history. Boa Viagem is the urban stretch of skyscrapers beside the sea; Recife Antigo, at the Marco Zero, holds the museums, the Rua do Bom Jesus and the nightlife; and the two Brennand sites (the Institute and the Ceramic Workshop) are must-see stops. A few kilometers away, Olinda, a World Heritage Site, is worth a full day of hills and churches. And then there is the food: Recife is one of the food capitals of Brazil's Northeast, from caldinho de feijão (a thick bean broth) to haute cuisine.
Updated on October 19, 2026
What to see
Must-sees in Recife
1 Town and culture
Marco Zero and Recife Antigo
A waterfront square that marks the founding of the city, the heart of the historic district, with museums and Cícero Dias's Compass Rose.
2 Beaches
Boa Viagem Beach
The main urban beach, with a long seafront promenade, natural reefs and skyscrapers in the background.
3 Town and culture
Ricardo Brennand Institute
A castle-style complex that holds one of the largest collections of bladed weapons in the world and works by Frans Post.
4 Town and culture
Francisco Brennand Ceramic Workshop
A former pottery turned open-air gallery, with thousands of the artist's ceramic sculptures.
5 Town and culture
Rua do Bom Jesus
A colorful colonial street that is home to the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue, the first in the Americas.
6 Town and culture
Paço do Frevo
A museum devoted to frevo, a rhythm and dance recognized as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
7 Town and culture
Olinda
A neighboring historic town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Baroque churches and colorful hills.
8 Town and culture
Cathedral of São Pedro dos Clérigos
An 18th-century Baroque church on the Pátio de São Pedro, one of the prettiest ensembles in the city.
Tours and tickets
Things to do in Recife, bookable in English
When to go
Best time to visit Recife
Brazil is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are the reverse of those in Europe and North America: summer falls between December and March and winter between June and August. In Recife, however, there is almost no winter: the heat is constant all year. Average highs reach 31 °C from December to March; in July and August, the coolest months, the high is 28 °C and the low is 21 °C.
The rainy season runs from April to July. The wettest months are June, with 391 mm over 22 days, May, with 317 mm over 19 days, and July, with 315 mm over 23 days. The driest months are November, with 39 mm over 7 days, October, with 53 mm over 9 days, and December, with 62 mm over 8 days.
For the beach, the best window is October to December, with November as the best month. September (93 mm over 12 days) and January (107 mm over 11 days) are also among the months with the least rain. Anyone traveling between May and July should expect rain on many days, although the weather can never be guaranteed in advance and the sea stays warm.
Best window: October to December More rain / less comfortable Comfort index · INMET (updated 2026)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 °C | 23 °C | 107 mm | 11 | Fair |
| February | 31 °C | 23 °C | 127 mm | 11 | Fair |
| March | 31 °C | 23 °C | 197 mm | 15 | Fair |
| April | 30 °C | 23 °C | 269 mm | 17 | Fair |
| May | 30 °C | 22 °C | 317 mm | 19 | Not recommended |
| June | 29 °C | 22 °C | 391 mm | 22 | Not recommended |
| July | 28 °C | 21 °C | 315 mm | 23 | Fair |
| August | 28 °C | 21 °C | 187 mm | 19 | Fair |
| September | 29 °C | 22 °C | 93 mm | 12 | Fair |
| October | 30 °C | 22 °C | 53 mm | 9 | Good |
| November | 30 °C | 23 °C | 39 mm | 7 | Good |
| December | 31 °C | 23 °C | 62 mm | 8 | Good |
Monthly averages for 1991-2020 from INMET (Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology). The rating combines rainfall, temperature and humidity.
The weather in Recife, season by season
Summer
In summer (December to February), Recife has highs of around 31 °C (88 °F) and lows of 23 °C (73 °F), and it is the wetter season, with about 99 mm of rain spread over about 10 days a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Fall
In fall (March to May), Recife has highs of around 30 °C (86 °F) and lows of 23 °C (73 °F), and it is the wetter season, with about 261 mm of rain spread over about 17 days a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Winter
In winter (June to August), Recife has highs of around 28 °C (82 °F) and lows of 21 °C (70 °F), and it is the wetter season, with about 298 mm of rain spread over about 21 days a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Spring
In spring (September to November), Recife has highs of around 30 °C (86 °F) and lows of 22 °C (72 °F), and it is the driest time of year, with about 62 mm of rain a month. The days are hot and call for beach time and shade.
Month by month
Recife in every month of the year
Weather, crowds, prices and what is happening at the destination in each period. Tap a month to open its full page; the colored dot shows how good the time is for a visit.
Calendar
Recurring events in Recife
February/March
Carnival in Recife / Galo da Madrugada
The Galo da Madrugada, recognized as the largest Carnival bloco in the world, draws crowds to the center to the sound of frevo.
June
São João
June festivals with quadrilha square dancing, forró and traditional foods all over the city throughout June.
December/January
New Year's Eve in Boa Viagem
New Year's Eve on the Boa Viagem waterfront, with concerts and fireworks by the sea.
Recurring annual events: exact dates change every year, so confirm them before you plan your trip.
Getting there
Getting to Recife from abroad
The gateway from abroad is Recife/Guararapes (Gilberto Freyre) International Airport, code REC, about 10 km from the center and from Boa Viagem.
By road, Recife is 118 km from João Pessoa (about 2 h) and 257 km from Maceió (about 3 h). Olinda is about 7 km from the center, around 20 minutes, and to the south, Porto de Galinhas is about 60 km away.
Routes and airlines that reach Recife from each country change often, so it is safest to check them when you plan your trip.
REC · Recife/Guararapes International Airport (Gilberto Freyre), about 10 km (6 mi) from Recife
Where to stay
Hotels in Recife
Recife is divided into two very different areas. Boa Viagem is the urban stretch beside the sea, with a long promenade and tall buildings facing the beach; Recife Antigo, at the Marco Zero, holds the museums, the Rua do Bom Jesus and the nightlife. It is best to choose according to what you want to do most: beach and seafront, or history and nightlife. Olinda is about 7 km away and can be visited in a day from either area; to reach the Brennand sites and the upper town of Olinda, a car or a ride-hailing app helps.
Rates change with the dates: confirm the price on Booking.com.
Before you go
Practical information for visitors from abroad
Entry to the country
Passport and visa requirements depend on your nationality and can change. Confirm them on the website of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you buy your flight.
Currency and payments
The currency is the real (BRL). Ask your bank or card issuer how payments abroad work, and carry some cash for small expenses.
Language and time
Portuguese is spoken. Recife uses Brasília time, UTC−3, all year round.
Getting there
Recife/Guararapes Airport (REC) is about 10 km from the center and from Boa Viagem.
When to go
October to December is the driest period; from April to July the rain is concentrated, peaking in June and July. It is warm all year.
Swimming at Boa Viagem
Respect the shark warning signs and do not go past the line of the reefs. At low tide, the protected natural pools are safer.
Combine it with Olinda
Olinda, a World Heritage Site, is about 7 km away (20 min). Set aside a day for the hills, churches and studios of the upper town.
Southern coast
To the south are Porto de Galinhas (about 60 km) and the beaches of Ipojuca and Cabo, easy to combine on a longer trip.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Recife
What is the best time to travel to Recife?
October to December is the driest period, with 39 to 62 mm of rain a month, and November is the best month. From April to July it rains more, peaking in June and July. The heat is constant all year and the sea is always warm.
How many days do you need in Recife?
Three to four days are enough to see Recife Antigo, the Boa Viagem seafront and the Brennand sites, with a day left for Olinda. If you want to extend the trip to Porto de Galinhas, you need more days.
Can you swim at Boa Viagem Beach?
Caution is needed. Boa Viagem has records of shark attacks and warning signs; the recommendation is not to go past the line of the reefs and to respect the signage. At low tide, protected natural pools form, safer for swimming.
Can you visit Recife and Olinda together?
Yes, and it is the ideal way. Olinda is about 7 km from Recife Antigo, around 20 minutes by car. The historic town, a World Heritage Site, is worth a day of hills, Baroque churches and studios, with Recife in the background.
Do you need a car in Recife?
For the seafront and Recife Antigo, no: you can use a ride-hailing app. A car helps for the Brennand sites, for Olinda and for reaching the beaches of the southern coast, such as Porto de Galinhas.
Is Recife good for anyone who enjoys culture?
Very. It is the cradle of frevo and maracatu, and it has the Paço do Frevo, the Brennand museums, the Recife Antigo ensemble and the Galo da Madrugada Carnival parade, one of the largest in the world. Olinda, next door, completes the route.
Other destinations in Brazil
Alter do ChãoAngra dos ReisArraial d'AjudaArraial do CaboBalneário CamboriúBelo HorizonteBento GonçalvesBombinhasBonitoBrasíliaBrumadinhoBúziosCabo FrioCaldas NovasCampos do JordãoCanelaChapada DiamantinaChapada dos VeadeirosCuritibaDiamantinaFernando de NoronhaFlorianópolisFortalezaFoz do IguaçuGramadoIlha GrandeIlhabelaIlhéusJaparatingaJericoacoaraJoão PessoaLençóis MaranhensesMaceióManausMaragogiMarianaMonte VerdeMorro de São PauloNatalNiteróiOuro PretoParatyPetrópolisPipaPorto AlegrePorto de GalinhasPorto SeguroRio de JaneiroSalvadorSão João del-ReiSão Miguel dos MilagresSão PauloSão SebastiãoTamandaréTiradentesTrancosoUbatuba
Sources
The weather and population data in this guide come from official agencies and open databases. Entry requirements and health recommendations change: always check the official source linked.